Mac Action 1996 January/mac-action-07.iso/mac/Shareware/Word Games/VincoBingo/Vinco Bingo Text

Text File | 1995-07-13 | 5.7 KB | 133 lines | [TEXT/MSWD]

Vinco Bingo

© 1995 Leo C. Curran



What is Vinco Bingo?

    Using the language of your choice and your own list of words (e.g.,
vocabulary, grammatical forms, cultural items, etc.) Vinco Bingo  will
automatically make sets of "bingo" cards. Each card of the set will be
different, containing a different random selection of your words arranged
in a random location. Also included are "scripts" with all of your words
listed in random order; you can use these to call out the definitions of your
words when you play the game.

    There is no need to laminate the cards or paste them on cardboard to
make them durable. Vinco Bingo is so fast and simple to use that you can
easily make a new set when the old one gets dog-eared.

    Nor need you write your words on slips of paper and draw them
from a hat as you call them out during the game. Use the "scripts" instead.
With just Vinco Bingo and some uncooked elbow macaroni as tokens
you're in business!

Quick Overview for Those Who Don't Like Lengthy Directions

    With your favorite word processor make a list of 25 to 40 words,
leaving no blank lines, and save it as a TEXT file (If you don't know how,
see How to save as a TEXT file). Run Vinco Bingo and perform, one at a
time, each of the 3 steps in the Vinco Bingo menu. It's that simple!

Before Using the Program

    Before using Vinco Bingo you must make a file of the words that the
program will later use to make a set of bingo cards. What is a word? First
of all, it need not be a single word. It can be a short phrase or an
abbreviation. Second, it must be no longer than 18 characters (or fewer if
all uppercase). Spaces and punctuation marks count as characters. If your
word is longer than 18 characters, Vinco Bingo will lop off its end and
reduce it to 18 characters.

    Using your word processor, open a file and type in your words, each
on its own line. Your file must have no fewer than 25 words in it and no
more than 40 words. The fewer the words, the easier the game. Make sure
that there are no blank lines within the list of words and no blank lines
before or after the list.

    When you have entered all your words, you must save your file, but
not in the usual manner. You must save it as a TEXT file. (If you do not
know how to do this, see the section below on saving a text file.) The name
you give this file when you save it will be printed at the bottom of each
bingo card so that you won't mix up cards from different sets. You might
want to end the filename with the number of words in it, e.g., "My File
25."

    Keep this file to make future sets of cards from the same words so
you won't have to type them in again.

Using the Program

    After you have created and saved your TEXT file of words as
described in the previous section, you are ready to use Vinco Bingo. Run
Vinco Bingo and click anywhere on the introductory screen. You are now
ready to begin.

Step 1: Choose number of words and number of cards

    Pull down the Vinco Bingo menu and choose Step 1. Enter the
number of words in your TEXT file; the program will accept only the
numbers from 25 to 40. Enter the number of bingo cards you want the set
to have (max. 40). Enter the word you want printed in the "Free" square in
the center of the card. (Since this program was originally written for Latin
teachers, the default value is "Liber".) Click on the "Done" button.

Step 2: Get the words to make a set of cards

    Pull down the Vinco Bingo menu and choose Step 2. If you have
saved your list of words as a TEXT file and the number of words shown in
this window matches the number of words in your TEXT file, then click
on the "OK" button.

    You will now be presented with the standard Macintosh window for
opening files. Select and open your TEXT file.

    After you have opened the file, the next window will show you the
progress of the program as it prepares each card in the set. When this
window closes you are ready for the next step.

Step 3: Print a set of cards

    Pull down the Vinco Bingo menu and choose Step 3. Clicking on the
"OK" button brings you the standard Macintosh window for printing.
Leave the number of copies at "1"; the program will print the number of
cards that you specified in Step 1. It will then print the "scripts" without
further prompting from you.

Finishing Up

    After sending everything to the printer, the program will end. If you
want to make another set of cards, run the program again.

How to save as a TEXT file

    Pull down your word processor's File menu and choose "Save as..."
(Do not choose the simple "Save" command.) Depending on what word
processor you are using, look for a box in this window that says something
like "Save File as Type:", "File Format:", or "Save As:". When you have
found this box, use it to choose "Text," or "Text Only," or "Text File"
from among the file types or file formats offered. If you have any
difficulties, consult your word processor's manual.

Troubleshooting

    If your bingo cards have blank squares or repeated words, the
number of words specified in Step 1 does not match the number of words
in your TEXT file or your TEXT file has blank lines in it.



Vinco Bingo is Shareware

    As you may know, "shareware" is the term in the computer world
for software that the user can obtain for free but must pay for if he/she
decides to keep and use it. You may at no cost try out Vinco Bingo and
give copies of it to your colleagues. If you decide the program is not worth
using, delete your copy of it. If you decide the program is worth using, the
cost is $20. Please send your check or money order to Leo C. Curran
(Home address: 4317 Harlem Road, Snyder, NY 14226. Office address:
Classics Department, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260). Your
payment will make you a registered user, eligible for future
updates/improvements in the program.